Energy Exchange

Illinois’ new EV Charging Act brings more equitable charging to renters

By EDF Blogs / Published: June 15, 2023

UPDATE: Since this blog’s publication on June 15, 2023, the Chicago City Council has passed an ordinance aligning and complementing its existing EV readiness ordinance with the state law. Chicago’s 2020 ordinance was more stringent, requiring EV ready wiring in new residential and commercial construction rather than EV capable. Residential requirements only applied in homes of five units or more, whereas SB40 affects all new residential construction. Now, all residential parking spaces in new homes must be EV ready regardless of size. Like the state law, the updated code will require energy management systems, as well as reduction of requirements for affordable housing due to their unique permitting and funding timelines. The ordinance goes into effect for permits submitted after November 1, 2023.

The newly passed Illinois EV Charging Act will address the residential charging access gap by requiring new homes to have basic electrical infrastructure to support future EV charging and giving renters and condo owners a right to charge.

Also posted in Electric Vehicles, Illinois / Authors: admin / Comments are closed

Texas awards $8 million in state incentives for electric trucks

By Phillip Martin / Published: April 21, 2023

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has awarded $8.2 million in state incentives to help companies operating in Texas purchase 51 electric trucks.

The announcement is a win for communities, the climate and the companies who secured the historic funding opportunity. The announced funds should signal to companies across the country that clean fleet investments are now part of the package of economic incentives that make Texas such an attractive place to do business.

Also posted in Electric Vehicles, Texas / Comments are closed

With beneficial electrification plans, the Illinois Commerce Commission takes a step towards reducing harmful emissions

By EDF Blogs / Published: March 23, 2023

By Larissa Koehler and Brian Urbaszewski

Today, the Illinois Commerce Commission issued a final order approving beneficial electrification plans from the state’s two biggest utilities — Commonwealth Edison and Ameren. The transportation-focused plans, directed by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, are critical to decarbonizing the transportation sector in Illinois.

Also posted in Electric Vehicles, Illinois / Comments are closed

Trust, but verify: How Colorado must lead as latest methane rulemaking advances

By EDF Blogs / Published: February 22, 2023

By Nini Gu

Colorado’s oil and gas regulators face an important decision that will determine whether the state can continue to successfully cut methane emissions and reach its statutory climate targets.

In 2021, Colorado’s Air Quality Control Commission adopted a rule that limits how much greenhouse gas can be emitted per barrel of oil and gas produced. However, the 2021 GHG intensity rule left open the critical question of how oil and gas operators can demonstrate that their emissions comply with the new standard.

Allowing companies to determine for themselves how to measure and report emissions without strong guidance and a requirement to use direct measurement data threatens to undermine the intensity standard and set a bad precedent for other jurisdictions — in the U.S. and abroad — that are looking to implement performance-based standards.

Fortunately, the Air Pollution Control Division is now undertaking a GHG Intensity Verification rulemaking to address this glaring omission, offering the opportunity to create a program based on best-available science and grounded in real and meaningful outcomes.

This GHG Intensity Verification Rule must be accurate, reliable and capable of directly quantifying the volume of real-world methane emissions so Colorado can make informed decisions to protect communities and the climate.

Also posted in Air Quality, Climate, Colorado, Gas to Clean / Comments are closed

The building blocks are in place for a strong Advanced Clean Fleets rule in California

By EDF Blogs / Published: January 11, 2023

By Lauren Navarro & Pamela MacDougall

California air regulators are currently considering adoption of the Advanced Clean Fleets rule — a purchase requirement for medium and heavy-duty fleets to adopt an increasing percentage of zero-emission trucks. This rule has the potential to be transformative.

Also posted in California, Electric Vehicles, General / Comments are closed

The power grid and disinformation

By Colin Leyden / Published: January 10, 2023

Texans know better than to believe the lies. But, whenever severe weather strikes the state and the isolated electric grid is imperiled, they’re always fed them: “Green energy” is offered up as the ultimate scapegoat, facts be damned.

Also posted in General, Grid Modernization, Natural Gas, Regional Grid, Texas / Comments are closed